Device for transferring passengers to and from moving trains.



No. 866,524. I PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

F. S. SEE.

DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING PASSBNGERS TO AND FROM MOVING TRAINS. APPLIOATION FILED r212. 26. 1907.

L 0% fl No. 866,524. I PATBNTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

F. s. SEE. DEVICE FOR TRANSFBRRING PASSENGERS TO AND FROM MOVING TRAINS.

APPLICATION FILED T11R26. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Filer 5. Sea

THE NORRIS PETERS co wAsam'vcmN v. c

Q/vi tncaoco No. 866,524. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. F. s. SEE.

DEVICE FOR TRANSFBRRING PASSENGERS TO AND FROM MOVING TRAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED 31:3. 26. 1901.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES FIIJER S. SEE, OF GEM, KANSAS.

DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING PASSENGERS TO AND FROM MOVING TRAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 26,1907- Serial No. 359,387.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, FILER S. SEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gem, in the county of Thomas and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Transferring Passengers to and from Moving Trains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for transferring passengers to and from moving trains, and it may be described as an improvement upon the device of this class for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 822,777, were granted to me on the 5th day of June 1906, and previous Letters Patent granted to myself.

The present invention has for its objects to simplify and improve the construction and operation of the parts constituting the device, and to provide an apparatus of the character described, which shall possess in a higher degree the elements of simplicity and general utility, and which shall be certain as well as safe in operation.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of a train including a car equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the main track showing also a portion of the auxiliary track for the car by means of which the transfer of passengers is effected. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, enlarged, of a portion of the car equipped with the invention. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing a portion of the turn table for conveying the transfer car. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 8-8 in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation of the arm 59 for actuating the auxiliary car, the shaft supporting said arm and related parts. Fig. 9 is a perspective detail view of the trip means placed upon the auxiliary track for the purpose of actuating the means for delivering the transfer car onto the auxiliary track. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional detail view of the trip mechanism.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

One of the objects of the present invention is to enable passengers to be transferred to or received from either side of a moving train, and to this end there is required a-specially constructed car A, the body of which is transversely bisected to form the sections 1 and 2 which are securely connected with each other by means of bridge members 33 which are offset downwardly as will clearly appear by reference to Fig. 4. The parts or sections 1 and 2 will thus be separated by a transverse groove or passage 4 which is of arcuate shape so as to permit the delivery car, which is supported by a turn-table connected with one of the sections, to move transversely through the car.

The turn-table 5 is supported for rotation upon a pivotal member 6 connected with the section 1 of the car A; a segmental track 7 is provided to guide the turn-table, which latter is provided with anti-friction members such as rollers 8 riding upon the track. The latter is provided with notches 9-9 adapted to be engaged by a pivoted catch or locking member 10 carried by an arm or bracket 11 depending from the turn-table. Another bracket 12 likewise depending from the turntable carries a lever 13, one end of which has a slot 14 engaging a pin 15 that extends laterally from the lower end of the catch or locking member 10; the opposite end of the lever 13 is pivotally connected with one end of an operating lever 16; the pivotal connection of the levers 13 and 16 being disposed in the extended axis of the pivot 6 of the turn-table, so that the latter will be free to turn upon its pivot without breaking the connection between the levers 13 and 16. The latter is fulcrumed upon a bracket 17 that extends downwardly from the body of the car.

The locking notches 99 are three in number, and said notches are disposed ninety degrees apart; two of said notches being at opposite sides of the turn-table and normally disposed at the sides of the car, as will be seen in Fig. 5, while the third, intermediate notch may be described as being located at the front or the rear end of the turn-table according to the direction of movement of the train.

The pivotal member 6 upon which the turn-table is mounted affords a bearing for one end of a shaft 18, the other end of which has a bearing in a transversely swinging arm or pendulum bracket 19 which is pivotally supported upon the underside of the car body, adjacent to one of the axles 20. The latter carries two bevel gears 21, either of which is adapted to mesh with a bevel pinion 22 carried by the shaft 18. The latter also carries a slidable sleeve 23 provided with a bevel pinion 24 adapted to mesh with a segmental rack 25 upon the edge of the turn-table, the said rack extending around somewhat more than one-half the circumference of said turn-table. The sleeve 23 has an annularly grooved collar 26 engaged by an arm 27 which is pivoted upon a bracket 28 depending from the car body in such amannor as to be capable of swinging in a horizontal plane,

18 to place the pinion 24 into or out of mesh with the rack 25. The arm 27 has a slot 29 for the reception of one end of a curved lever 30 which is fulcrumed at 31 upon a bracket 32 depending from the car body; said lever 30 being actuated by a spring 33 whereby it is actuated in such a manner that the slotted arm 27 engaged thereby will normally hold the sleeve 23 in a position where the pinion 24 will be out of mesh with the rack 25; the curved lever 30 has a laterally extending arm or member 34 which lies above and in the path of the lower end of the lever 16, which latter terminates in a flattened, curved plate or shoe 35 having a transverse slot 36 through which the lower end of the pendu lum bracket 19 extends; said pendulum being provided at itslower extremity with an anti-friction member, such as a ball 37. g

It will be apparent from the foregoing construction that when the lower end of the lever 16is elevated, the lever 13 and the catch member 10 will be tilted,said catch member being disengaged from the notch 9 in the turn-table previously occupied thereby. If, at the same time, the lower end of the pendulum bracket 19 is swung to either side, the end of the shaft 18 carrying the pinion 22 will be moved to place said pinion in mesh with one of the pinions 21, thus causing the shaft 18 to be rotated, and the direction of rotation being governed by the pinion 21 with which the pinion 22 is placed in mesh; thus, by swinging the pendulum bracket 19to the right, the shaft 18 Will be rotated in one direction, while, bylswinging the pendulum bracket to the left, the shaft 18 will be rotated in the opposite direction. \Vhen the lower end of the lever 16 is elevated, the lever 30 will at the same time be tilted against the tension of the spring 33, owing to the presence of the arm 34 which lies in the path of the lever 16; the pivoted arm 27 will thus be rocked, causing the sleeve 23 to be moved upon the shaft 18 until the pinion 24 is placed in mesh with the segmental rack 25; the sleeve 23 is keyed or feathered upon the shaft 18 with which it rotates, thus causing the turn-table to be rotated upon its axial pivot, the rotation continuing while the pinion 24 continues in mesh with the rack 25. Means, to be hereinafter described, are provided for interrupting the rotation at the proper moment when the turn-table has reached a point at which one of the notches 9 may be engaged by the catch member 10. It is to be understood that friction gearing, or other suitable means for transmitting motion, may be utilized instead of the positive gearing herein described, within the scope of the invention.

The turn-table 5 is provided with laterally extending arms 38 carrying a pair of rails 39 adapted to support the auxiliary car B which serves for the transfer of passengers to or from the car A. The rails 39 are downwardly beveled at both ends to form sharp edges 40. The arms 0r brackets 38, in addition to the rails39, carry the means for holding and for discharging the auxiliary car which will now be described in detail.

41 is a stationary guide member having a beveled edge 42 which extends in the direction of the beveled which extends a headed supporting pin 47 operated by a spring 48 whereby the beveled edge 43 of the member 44 will be held normally in contact with the beveled edge 42 of the member 41. A suitable casing G is provided having bearings for shafts 49 and 50, the former carrying a spur wheel 51 meshing with a pinion 52 of half the size upon the shaft 50, so that a complete rotation of the latter shaft will result in a one-half rotation of the shaft 49. The shaft 50 carries a disk 53, the periphery of which has a single notch 54 adapted ,to be en-. gaged by a catch 55 upon a vertically slidable member 56 having at its lower end an anti-friction member such as a wheel 57; the vertically slidable member 56, which is supported in suitable bearings in the casing C, is normally pressed in a downward direction by the actionof a spring 58 whereby the catch 55 will be caused to en gage the notch 54 in the disk 53 with absolute certainty when-the said notch passesbeneath the catch. The shaft 49, which makes a one-half rotation to each complete rotation of the shaft 50, carries an arm 59 having beveled ends which extend in opposite directions from I the axis of the shaft; this arm, when the shaft 49 is at.

rest in its normal position, occupies an approximately 1 horizontal position, and it will be understood that by a one-half rotation of the shaft in either direction, one of the beveled ends of the arm 59,will be caused to move in an arc of 180 degrees, and, by entering between the beveled edges of the guide members 41 and 44, will temporarily tilt the latter to oneside, to be presently restored to normal position by the action of the spring actuated pin 47. One end of the shaft 50, which extends through the casing C, carries a sprocket wheel 60 adapted for engagement with actuating means, to be presently described, for the purpose of rotating the said shaft 50.

The auxiliary car B, which is used for the transfer of; passengers, is provided with a stationary downwardly,

extending arm or bracket 61 having a Elf-head 62, said arm being adapted for entrance between the beveled I edges 42 and 43 of the members 41and 44, and for engagement with the notch 45 in the edge of the pivoted member 44 to be thereby retained securely in position between the guide members, until released by the means provided for the purpose. Bythis simple mechanism the auxiliary car is capable of beingretained securely upon the supporting track formed by the rails 39 the auxiliary car will be moved to a position adjacent to either side of the main car, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1, thus temporarily occupying a position adjacent to and parallel to the said main caix By partially rotating the turn-,

- It is desirable that the turn-table shall beactuated automatically at exactly the proper moment to, swing the auxiliary car to a discharging position at either side of the main car, in order that it may be delivered onto an auxiliary track D which is constructed alongside of and parallel tothe main track E. For the purpose of throwing the mechanism for operating the turn table into operation at the proper moment there is mounted between the rails 63 of the main track an operating device F including guide members 64 and 65, which in conjunction with each other will serve the double purpose of tripping the lever 16, thus disengaging the catch 10 whereby the turn-table is locked in position, and swinging to one side the pendulum bracket 19 whereby the mechanism for operating the turn-table is thrown into operation; the members of the operating device being of such curvature as to throw the pendulum bracket in the proper direction according to the movement desired of the turn-table. The dimensions of the members composing the operating device are so calculated that the rotation of the shaft 18 shall continue for a period just sufficient to rotate the turn-table to the extent of ninety degrees; thus, at the moment when the turn-table becomes stationary, the lever 16 will also pass out of engagement with the members of the operating device, and the catch 10 will pass into engagement with one of the notches 9, thus locking the turn-table securely at the proper point. The spring 33 which serves to actuate the lever 30, will likewise actuate the lever 16, owing to the presence of the transverse arm 34 of the said lever 30, which extends across the slotted plate or shoe at the lower extremity of the lever 16 Between the rails 66 of the auxiliary track, near each end of the latter, there is located an operating device G, the function of which is to actuate the means whereby the auxiliary car is discharged from the rails 39 of the turn-table onto the rails of the auxiliary track. Said operating device Gr includes a boxing or casing 67, the sides of which are provided with bearings for a plurality of transverse shafts 68 having upwardly extending spring actuated tongues 69 which normally extend vertically in an upward direction, and which are forced by the action of the springs 70 in the direction of cross-bars 71 connecting the sides of the casing. Connected with the tongue 69 at the front end of the casing, whereby is meant the end that is first engaged by a train approaching the auxiliary track from either direction, is a beveled shoe 72.

When a train approaches the auxiliary track from either direction, the train mechanism, including the lever 16 and the pendulum bracket 19, is first engaged by the operating device F whereby the operating mechanism of the turn-table is thrown into operation, as already described, causing the turn-table to be rotated to the extent of ninety degrees, and causing the auxiliary car which is supported upon and connected with the track carried by the turn-table to be swung or moved into a position adjacent to and parallel to the main car. It is obvious that the auxiliary track D is constructed in such position as to be in proper alinement with the rails 39 of the turn-table when the latter is swung to the delivering position indicated. As soon as the car A reaches the auxiliary track, the fric tion member 57 at the lower end of the vertically slidable member 56 will engage the beveled shoe 72 whereby the member 56 will be moved in an upward direction against the tension of the spring 58, until the catch 55 is disengaged irom the notch 54 in the disk 53. The sprocket wheel 60 will now pass into engagement with the tongues 69 of the operating device G which are present in such number as to cause one full rotation of the sprocket wheel of the shaft with which said wheel is connected, thus causing the shaft 49 to be rotated to the extent of a one-half revolution. When the rotation of the shaft 50 has been completed, the locking notch 54 in the disk 53 will be automatically engaged by the spring actuated catch 55, and further rotation of said shaft will be prevented. By the one-half rotav tion of the shaft 49, one of the beveled ends of the arm 59 will pass between the beveled edges of the guide members 41 and 44, and the latter, being pivotally mounted, will yield to the pressure of said arm, thus causing the notch 45 to be disengaged from the arm or bracket 61 depending from the auxiliary car, the latter being thus released from connection with the turntable; nor is this all; for as the arm 59 continues its movement, it will directly impinge upon the arm or bracket 61, and will thus propel the auxiliary car, causing the latter to move off the supporting rails 39 and onto the rails 66 of the auxiliary track. It is selfevident that the rotation of the shaft 49 will be in such direction that the auxiliary car, in the act of being discharged, will be propelled in the opposite direction of the moving train.

Prior to the arrival of the moving train at the station where the auxiliary track is located, there is deposited upon the said auxiliary track an auxiliary car 13 containing the passengers that are to be transferred to the train. One auxiliary car having been discharged from the turn-table, the rails 39 of the latter will be ready to receive the previously loaded car waiting upon the auxiliary track. The rails 39 connected with the turntable will be supported in such a plane that their terminal ends, which are beveled as hereinbefore described, to present sharp edges 40, will be quite close to the upper surfaces of the rails of the auxiliarytrack, so that they will enter beneath the wheels of the auxiliary 100 car waiting upon the auxiliary track, said auxiliary car passing readily and automatically into position upon the rails 39; the depending arm or bracket 61 of the auxiliary car will be guided automatically between the beveled edges 42 and 43 of the guide members 41 and 105 44, the latter being tilted to one side to make room .ior said bracket, which latter is presently engaged in the notch 45, upon which the pivoted guide member 44 is automatically restored to its normal position by the action of the spring 48, thus causing the auxiliary car 110 to be retained in position upon the turn-table. As the train progresses, the operating device G which is located near the opposite end of the auxiliary track is encountered, but the spring actuated tongues 69 of said operating device will yield to the pressure of the member 115 56, the position of which latter will not be affected;

when the auxiliary track has been passed, the second operating device F will be encountered, and the oper ating mechanism of the turn-table will be thereby thrown into operation, but with the effect of restoring the turn-table to its normal position, and consequently swinging or moving the auxiliary car into position within the main car A. While in this position, the passengers boarding the train will evacuate the auxiliary car, which latter will be entered by the passengers who are to be discharged at the next station.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it pertains. The

construction is simple, and the invention may be carried into practical operation at an expense which is not large when the advantages gained thereby are taken into consideration.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turntable supported adjacent to said passage, means for rotating the turntable in opposite directions, and an auxiliary car adapted to be supported by the turn-table for' transverse movement through the passage. of the main car.

2. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turntable supported adjacent to said passage, means for rotating the turn-table in opposite directions, means for locking the turn-table at intervals of ninety degrees, and an auxiliary car adapted to be supported by the turn-table for transverse movement through the passage of the main car.

3. A railroad car bisected to form two sections spaced apart by a transverse arcuate passage, and downwardly olt'set bridge members connecting said sections.

4. A railroad car bisected to form parts or sections separated by a transverse arcuate passage, bridge members connecting the parts of sections, and a turn-table supported by one of the latter adjacent to the arcuate passage.

5. A railroad car bisectedto form parts or sections separated by a transverse arcuate passage, bridge members connecting the parts or sections, a turn-table supported by one of the latter adjacent to the arcuate passage and having laterally extending arms, rails supported upon the latter, an auxiliary car adapted to be supported upon the rails, and means for locking the auxiliary car temporarily in position.

6. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported adjacent to said passage, a guide flange having locking notches, a pivoted catch supported by the turn-table for engagement with the locking notches, a lever supported by the turntable and having pivotal connection with the catch member, and an actuating lever supported by the car and having pivotal connection with one end of the lever, the other end of which is connected with the catch member; the pivotal connection of the two levers being located in the extended axis of the turn-table.

7. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported for rotation adjacent to said passage and having a segmental rack, a pivotal member constituting the axis of the turn-table, a pendulum bracket supported by the car, a shaft supported for rotation in the pendulum bracket and in the pivotal member of the turn-table, a sleeve slidable upon said shaft and carrying a pinion adapted to mesh with the segmental rack of the turn-table, a bevel pinion carried by the shaft, :1 car axle, and bevel gears mounted upon the car axle at opposite sides of the bevel pinion upon the shaft.

8. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turntable supported adjacent to said passage, means for locking the turn-table in various positions, means for rotating the turn-table in opposite directions, and means for simultaneously disengaging the locking means of the turn-table.

In' a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported adjacent to said passage and having means for supporting an auxiliary car, means for locking the turntable in various positions, a trip lever supported by the car for actuating the locking mechanism, said trip lever having a terminal slotted shoe, a pendulum bracket supported by the car and extending through the slotted shoe of the trip lever, an axial supporting member for the turn-table, a shaft supported for rotation in the axial supporting member and in the pendulum bracket, a sleeve slidable upon the shaft and having a bevel wheel engaging the turn-table and an annularly grooved collar, a car axle having bevel wheels, a bevel pinion upon the shaft intermediate the bevel wheels and adapted for alternate engagement therewith, a slotted arm engaging the annularly grooved collar of the slidable sleeve, a spring actuated lever engaging the slotted arm, and an arm extending laterally from the spring actuated lever in the path of the slotted shoe of the trip lever.

10. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported adjacent to the passage and adapted to carry an auxiliary car through said passage, means for locking the turn-table in various positions, means for rotating the turn-table in opposite directions, and means for simultaneously disengaging the locking mechanism and throwing the operating mechanism of the turn-table into operation.

11. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported adjacent to said passage and having laterally extending arms, rails supported upon said arms, a stationary and a pivoted guide member supported intermediate the rails, said guide members having beveled contacting edges and the edge of the pivoted guide member being provided with a notch intermediate its ends, and an auxiliary car adapted to be supported upon the rails and having a depending bracket adapted. for engagement with the notch of the pivoted guide member.

12. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported adjacent to said passage, rails supported by the turn-table, a stationary and a pivoted guide member supported intermediate the rails and having beveled contacting edges and the edge of the pivoted member being provided with a notch, spring means for holding the beveled edge of the pivoted member normally in contact with the beveled edge of the stationary guide member, and an auxiliary car adapted to be supported upon the rails and having a depending bracket adapted to engage the notch of the pivoted guide member.

13. In a device of the class described, a car having a transverse passage, a turn-table supported adjacent to said passage, rails carried by the turn-table, a stationary and a pivoted spring actuated guide member supported intermediate the rails and having beveled contacting edges, the edge of the pivoted member being provided with a notch, an auxiliary car adapted to be supported upon the rails and having a depending bracket for engagement with the notch of the pivoted guide member, a transverse shaft supported for rotation beneath the guide members, an arm having beveled ends extending in opposite directions on said shaft and adapted to enter between the stationary and the pivoted guide member, means for imparting to said shaft rotation to the extent of one-half of a revolution, means for locking said shaft at the end of each half revolution, and an auxiliary car adapted to be supported upon the rails of the turn-table and having a depending bracket adapted to engage the notch in the edge of the pivoted guide member.

14. In a device of the class described, a turn-table hav ing supporting rails, a stationary and a pivoted guide member supported between the rails and having beveled contacting edges, the edge of the pivoted member being provided with a notch, transverse shafts supported for rotation beneath the guide members and having intermeshing gears whereby one of said shafts will accomplish a one-half revolution to each complete revolution of the other shaft, an arm extending in opposite directions from the former shaft and adapted to displace the pivoted guide member by entering between the contacting edges of the stationary and the pivoted guide members, a locking disk and a sprocket wheel carried by the latter shaft, said locking disk having a single peripheral notch, a vertically slid able catch member adapted to engage said notch, and an auxiliary car adapted to be supported on the rails of the turn-table and having a bracket adapted to engage the notch in the edge of the pivoted guide member.

15. In a device of the class described, a turn-table having supporting rails, a stationary and a pivoted guide member supported intermediate the rails and having beveled contacting edges, the edge of the pivoted member being provided with a notch, an auxiliary car having a depending bracket adapted to engage said notch, a shaft supported for rotation and having an arm extending in opposite directions to the axis thereof and adapted to pass between the stationary and the pivoted guide members, means for locking the shaft at the termination of each one-half revolution, and means for unlocking said shaft and for imparting thereto rotation to the extent of one-half a revolution.

16. In a device of the class described, a turn-table having supporting rails, an auxiliary car having a depending bracket, means disposed between said rails for engaging the bracket of the auxiliary car to secure the latter in position, and means for disengaging the locking mechanism and for, at the same time, propelling the car from its position upon the rails of the turntable.

17. In a device of the class described, a turn-table having supporting rails, an auxiliary car adapted to be supported upon the rails and having 21 depending bracket, stationary and pivoted guide members upon the turntable having beveled contacting edges, the edge of the pivoted member being provided with a notch, a shaft supported for rotation transversely beneath the guide members, an arm extending in opposite directions from said shaft and adapted to enter between the stationary and the pivoted guide members, a spur wheel upon the trans verse shaft, a secondary transverse shaft having a pinion meshing with the spur wheel and of one-half the diameter of the latter, a locking disk and a sprocket wheel carried by the secondary transverse shaft, said locking disk having a single peripheral notch, a vertically slidable member having a catch engaging said notch and provided with an antifriction member at its lower extremity, and an operating device including a plurality of pivoted spring actuated tongues adapted for engagement with the sprocket wheel; one of said tongues having a beveled shoe adapted to engage the anti-friction member at the lower extremity of the vertically movable member.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FILER S. SEE.

Witnesses:

EBnR N. Snn, F. L' SMITH. 

